Ryan Seacrest Builds Studio for Egleston Kids

ATLANTA - A celebrity visitor stopped by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egelston on Friday to present an amazing gift. Media mogul and Atlanta native Ryan Seacrest is giving back, helping bring joy to young patients with life-threatening illnesses.

Seacrest made the trip home from Hollywood to bring much-needed smiles to the face of patients at Children’s Healthcare of Egleston. The studio is nothing short of state-of-the-art, and most of it was donated by the Seacrest Foundation. The Voice, as it’s called, sits right in Egelston’s lobby.

Ryan Seacrest himself flipped the switch to take The Voice live on Friday, and the entire hospital was watching and listening. For patients who couldn’t make the trip, the event was piped into every room at both Egleston and Hughes Spalding Scottish Rite.

It’s a welcome distraction for young patients battling illness. They’ll get to play DJ and TV host, and their shows will be seen and heard closed circuit throughout the hospital.

At the age of 14, Oliva King has lived through more pain than most of will endure in a lifetime. Suffering from cystic fibrosis, the Buford teen has spent much of the last 10 years in and out of Children's Hospital at Egleston. She recently had her second liver transplant. But Oliva was all smiles -- in part thanks to a new addition at Egleston -- The Voice Radio and Television Studio.

"The older kids are going to love it. They'll get to request songs get interviews, and talk about their interest in music," said Oliva.

"They'll be able to come in and be able to participate as a DJ and they can be on the air as much as they want to," said Chris Jones, Director of Volunteer Services.

Staffers have been brought in to fill in when there aren't kids around to choose the music.

The Voice can also be used when as educational tool, allowing doctors to give advice to children all over the network.

"We hope we can focus on things like childhood obesity, washing your hands – how that can keep you from getting sick. The sorts of things that can be helpful to kids," said Jones.